Urinary drainage collecting device

ABSTRACT

A closed urinary drainage set adapted to collect urine from a patient. The set includes a connecting tube terminating at its distal end in an irregular opening disposed in a vented chamber and communicating with a collapsible bag through a unidirectional valve. Means are further provided for venting the bag to atmosphere. The device provides a closed system drainage positively preventing backflow of urine and preventing a continuous column of urine in the connecting tube.

United States Patent 1191 Walker 1 1 Apr. 2, 1974 [54] URINARY DRAINAGE COLLECTING 3,312,221 4/1967 Ovcrment 1. 121-1/295 DEVICE 3,537,109 1 H1970 Spurricr ct 21L... l28/275 3,583,401 6/1971 Vailiancourt 121 275 [75] Inventor: Clarence L- Walk r, W r 3,604,420 9 1971 Vailiancourt .1 1211/275 Groves, Mo. 3,534,738 10/1970 Huck 1211 275 [73] Assignce: Sherwood Medical Industries, Inc., I I

St Louis, Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum [22] Filed:- June 16, 1971 Appl. No.: 153,563

[57] ABSTRACT A closed urinary drainage set adapted to collect urine from a patient. The set includes a connecting tube terminating at its distal end in an irregular opening disposed in a vented chamber and communicating with a collapsible bag through a unidirectional valve. Means are further provided for venting the bag to atmosphere. The device provides a closed system drainage positively preventing backflow of urine and preventing a continuous column of urine in the connecting tube.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAPR 2 I974 $800,795

ATTO RN EYS @W WWWMM URINARY DRAINAGE COLLECTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to medical applicances and in particular to urine collecting devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art A substantial number of devices have been developed for collecting urine. One of the problems found in the conventional urine collecting devices is the substantial vacuum pressure applied to the patients urinary tract as a result of a continuous column of urine in the connecting tube. Another problem with the known urine collecting devices is the possibility of backflow of the urine into the patients urinary tract permitted thereby, and of migration of bacteria through said column of urine to the patients urinary tract.

A further problem found in the conventional urine collecting devices is the relatively large size of the connecting tube which presents a serious comfort problem where the'patient is supine.

A further problem found in the conventional vdevices is the failure to assure maintained sterile conditions in the collecting operations.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION being extremely simple and economical of construction, avoids the problems of the above'discussed d evices of the art.

More specifically, the urine collecting device of the present invention comprises a urine collecting device for use in collecting urine passed from a patient including a catheter duct, means defining a collecting container, or bag, means for conducting urine unidirectionally only from the duct to the container, and means for effectively precluding the formation of a continuous column of urine between the duct and the container in the conducting'means.

The urine column precluding means includes means for venting the conducting meansand means for venting the bag. In one form of the invention, the venting means are interconnected. The means for venting the conducting means may comprise a ventopening to an enlarged chamber into which the distal end of the connecting tube opens. The distal end of the connecting tube may have an irregular shape to effectively preclude bridging of urine across the discharge opening.

The means for effecting unidirectional flow of the urine to the collecting container may comprise an improved leaf type check valve.

The connecting tube may have a reduced diameter for the first portion of its length thereby minimizing 'discomfort of the patient where the patient is supine.

The vent means may comprise an improved zigzag shaped, small diameter vent passage and may further include a delay chamber for delaying flow of urine to an outer filter means thereof.

Thus, the urine collecting device of the present invention provides a low cost disposable drainage set adapted for improved urine collection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a urine collecting device embodying the invention;

FIG; 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of urine collecting device embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGS. 14 of the drawing, a urine collecting device generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a collecting container, or bag, 11 which may be formed of a suitable flexible material, such as plastic. Illustratively, the bag may be formed of vinyl plastic with a rear half portion 11a formed of white patterned finish vinyl plastic, and a front half portion formed of transparent vinyl plastic. The front portion may carry a suitable scale 12 for indicating the volume of urine collected therein.

Device 10 further includes a control structure generally designated 13 disposed within the upper end of bag 1 l with the top edge 14 of the bag being sealed thereto. A connecting tube generally designated 15 isprovided for conducting the urine from the patients urinary tract through the control structure 13 into bag 11. In normal use, the bag is hung in an upright position adjacent the patients bed by means of a suitable hanger 16 connected to the control structure 13. Thus, urine flows downwardly through the tube 15 into the collecting device to be received in the collecting bag 11.

Collecting device 10 is arranged to conduct the urine unidirectionally only from duct 15 into bag 11. For this purpose, a check valve 17 is provided herein comprising a leaf valve formed of a suitable flexible material, such as a synthetic plastic. In the illustrated embodiment, the'check leaf valve is formed of a 0.004 inch vinyl sheet plastic. The upper end 18 of the valve is held in an open arrangement by the sealed connection thereof to a lower discharge portion 19 of an enlarged air break or transfer chamber 20 defined by a pair of plates 21 and 22. Plates 21 and 22 further define an upward tubular inlet 23 opening upwardly from chamber 20. The lower end 24 of connecting tube 15 is sealingly connected to inlet 23 by a suitable sleeve 25. The distal end 26 of the duct portion 24 is cut to define an irregular opening adapted to preclude bridging of urine thereacross in chamber 20.

Thus, chamber 20 is somewhat similar to a drip chamber in permitting the urine to fall from duct end opening 26 therethrough and into the upper end 18 of the check valve 17. The chamber 20 is vented to the bag 11 by means of a vent passage 27 having an upper opening 28 into chamber 20 midway between the upper and lower ends of the chamber, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the passage 27 and opening 28 are simi-cylindrical, being formed as' an arcuate cross-section recess in rear plate 22.

Bag 1 1 is further vented to atmosphere through a second vent passage 29 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Vent passage 29 includes an uppermost filter chamber 30 opening to atmosphere through the upper end 14 of bag 11 and carrying a body of sterile filter material, such as cotton, 31. Spaced slightly subjacent filter chamber 30 is a delay chamber 32 comprising an enlarged portion of passage 29 into which any liquid flowing outwardly through passage 29 may be received for delaying flow thereof to chamber 30. The lower end of passage 29 is similar to passage 27 in being of extremely small size and comprising a semi-cylindrical cross-section being formed in rear plate 22.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end 33 of lower discharge portion 19 may flare outwardly, with check valve 17 disposed substantially at the center thereof for facilitated introduction of the urine to bag 11.

Thus, front plate 21 and rear plate 22 effectively define the different portions of the control structure 13 as discussed above. The plates may be formed economically by molding thereof from a suitable synthetic plas- 4 of urine and migration of bacteria from bag 1 1 through tube 15 to the patient while yet permitting free flow of the urine downwardly into the bag during the normal collection operation. Surges of urine from the patient are positively conducted into bag 11 thereby effectively maintaining air vent 29 free of urine, and in particular,

tic-material, such as rigid polyvinyl chloride. Each plate may have a thickness of approximately 0.03 inch and may be formed of clear material for facilitated observation of the urine collection operation. Similarly, connecting tube 15 may be formed of a suitable clear plastic material having a smooth internal bore for facilitated conduction of the urine. Illustratively, tube 15 may be formed of tubing having an inner diameter of approximately 0.37 inch over a minor portion of its length at the distal end 34, and a reduced inner diameter, such as0.29 inch over the proximal end 35. The tip 36 of end portion 35 is enlarged to the standard dimension of approximately 0.44 inch outer diameter to form a connector for a catheter. Thus, portion 35 is adapted tominimize discomfort to the patient in a supine position lying on this portion of the tube while yet tube portion 34 may have a large diameter for facilitated delivery of urine downwardly therethrough into the bag, and to prevent the formation of a continuous column of urine. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube may have an overall length of approximately 50 inches with approximately 14 inches of the tube comprising portion 34, and the remainder of the tube comprising small diameter portion 35. Thus, the reduced diameter portion may extend three-fourths of the total length of the tube.

In use, device is hung on a suitable standard (not shown) adjacent the patients bed with the duct suitably connected to the urinary tract of the patient through end 36. Urine flowing from the patient passes downwardly through tube portion 34 and downwardly from tube end 26 through chamber 20 and check valve 17 into the collecting bag 11. The formation ofa continuous column of urine in tube is prevented by means of the enlarged chamber 20 which is vented to the bag 11 through passage 27 and, in turn, vented to atmosphere through passage 29, the enlarged portion 34 of tube 15 and the notch 26 preventing meniscus formation at the bottom of the tube. in this regard it should be noted that the vent passages 27 and 29 prevent the formation of a continuous column of urine in the tube 15 by supplying air to the tube 15 and chammaintaining the filter 31 dry for maintained flow of ambient air therethrough during the collection operation. The vent passages 27 and 29 are preferably very small in cross-section, illustratively having a diameter of approximately 0.02 inch and, as discussed above, being semi-cylindrical. Thus, inadvertent flow of urine from the bag backwardly through the vent passages is effectively minimized even where the bag 11 is improperly placed on its side.

Control structure 13, as discussed above, may be economically formed by plastic molding operations effectively minimizing the cost of urine collecting device 10, permitting the device to be effectively a disposable structure eliminating infection problems arising where reusable collecting devices are employed. While device 10 is extremely simple and economical of construction, it provides a number of highly desirable advantages over the known collecting devices as discussed above.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a modified form of urine collecting device generally designated 110 is shown to comprise a device generally similar to device 10, but having a modified form of control structure 113. In describing device 110, numerals similar to numerals applied to corresponding elements of device 10, but higher, are utilized.

Control structure 113 isformed of a pair of plates 121 and 122 similar to plates 21 and 22 of control structure 13, which are formed to define the enlarged air break or transfer chamber 120 and vent passages 127 and 129. Vent passage 129 is connected to vent passage '127 and the vent passages effectively define a zigzag or tortuous path opening upwardly through the filter chamber 130. The top portion 114 of bag 111 is sealingly connected to the lower end 137 of the control structure 1 13 so that the control structure plates in device extend upwardly from the bag rather than downwardly into the bag as in device 10. A check leaf valve 1 17 is provided for effecting the desired unidirectional urine flow as in device 10. A strap hanger 116 is provided for hanging the device 110 on the supporting standard with the strap having a tongue end 138 selectively receivable in a pair of spaced openings 139 and 140 in the control structure for adjusting the looped extent of the strap as desired.

Urine collecting device 110 functions similarly to urine collecting device 10 in passing urine delivered from connecting tube through chamber and check valve 117 into bag 111. Thus, urine collecting device 110 provides the highly desirable advantages discussed above relative to collecting device 10 while yet also being extremely simple and economical of construction permitting disposable use thereof as desired. In addition, the tortuous path of passages 127 and 129 prevent the migration of bacteria from the bag to the enlarged chamber 120 and tube 115.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim;

1. A urine collecting device for use in collecting urine passed from a patient comprising a tube for collecting urine from a patient, a urine column breaking chamber connected in fluid communication with said tube, a collection container for receiving urine from said column breaking chamber, a check valve connected between said column breaking chamber and said container for conducting urine unidirectionally only from said column breaking chamber to said container, and means for venting both said column breaking chamber and said container to atmosphere including a vent chamber having one end connected to atmosphere, a first vent passage having one end connected to said column breaking chamber for fluid communication therewith and the opposite end connected in fluid communication with the opposite end of said vent chamber, a second vent passage having one end connected to said container for fluid communication therewith and the opposite end connected in fluid communication with said opposite end of said vent chamber, and filter means in said vent chamber for filtering air flow between the atmosphere and said vent passages.

2. The urine collecting device of claim 1 further including a pair of plates facially joined together and connected to said container with portion of said plates defining the walls of said urine column breaking chamber and said passages.

3. The urine collecting device of claim 1 further including a delay chamber of larger diameter than each of said passages and connected between said filter means in said vent chamber and said passages.

4. The urine collecting device of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second passages are connected directly to said vent chamber.

5. The urine collecting device of claim 1 wherein said urine column breaking chamber has a greater diameter than said tube and has an upper wall with an opening for receiving said tube, a bottom ,wall having an opening connected with said valve, and side walls between said upper and lower walls, said tube extending into said chamber with its end portion spaced from all of said chamber walls, and said first vent passage connecting with said urine column breaking chamber at a point along the side walls thereof spaced from and disposed between said upper and lower walls.

6. The urine collecting device of claim 5 further including a pair of plates of relatively rigid plastic connected together in facing relation and to said container, portions of the facing walls of said plates defining said walls of said urine column breaking chamber, said first and second passages, and said vent chamber.

7. The urine collecting device of claim 6 wherein said end portion of said tube is irregular to preclude the bridging of urine thereacross, and said vent passages are generally semi-cylindrical.

8. The urine collecting device of claim 6 wherein each of said vent passages has a diameter of approximately 0.02 inch.

9. The urine collecting device of claim 6 wherein said container is a flexible plastic bag.

10. A urine collecting device for use in collecting urine passed from a patient comprising a collection container for receiving urine, a urine column breaking chamber connected with said container, a check valve connected between said chamber and said container for conducting urine unidirectionally only from said chamber to said container, a tube connected in fluid communication with said chamber for conducting urine from a patient to said chamber, said tube extending into said chamber with the end thereof in spaced relation from the walls of said chamber, vent means including a passage having one end connected with said chamber at a location spaced from the upper and lower walls of said chamber and the opposite end thereof connected in fluid communication with the atmosphere, and means for venting said container to atmosphere.

11. The urine collecting device of claim 10 wherein said one end of said passage is substantially vertically midway between the upper and lower walls of said chamber.

12. The urine collecting device of claim. 10 including a pair of plates facially joined together and connected to said container with portions of said plates defining the walls of said chamber and said passage, said plates being formed of a plastic material which is rigid relative to the material of said container. 

1. A urine collecting device for use in collecting urine passed from a patient comprising a tube for collecting urine from a patient, a urine column breaking chamber connected in fluid communication with said tube, a collection container for receiving urine from said column breaking chamber, a check valve connected between said column breaking chamber and said container for conducting urine unidirectionally only from said column breaking chamber to said container, and means for venting both said column breaking chamber and said container to atmosphere including a vent chamber having one end connected to atmosphere, a first vent passage having one end connected to said column breaking chamber for fluid communication therewith and the opposite end connected in fluid communication with the opposite end of said vent chamber, a second vent passage having one end connected to said container for fluid communication therewith and the opposite end connected in fluid communication with said opposite end of said vent chamber, and filter means in said vent chamber for filtering air flow between the atmosphere and said vent passages.
 2. The urine collecting device of claim 1 further including a pair of plates facially joined together and connected to said container with portion of said plates defining the walls of said urine column breaking chamber and said passages.
 3. The urine collecting device of claim 1 further including a delay chamber of larger diameter than each of said passages and connected between said filter means in said vent chamber and said passages.
 4. The urine collecting device of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second passages are connected directly to said Vent chamber.
 5. The urine collecting device of claim 1 wherein said urine column breaking chamber has a greater diameter than said tube and has an upper wall with an opening for receiving said tube, a bottom wall having an opening connected with said valve, and side walls between said upper and lower walls, said tube extending into said chamber with its end portion spaced from all of said chamber walls, and said first vent passage connecting with said urine column breaking chamber at a point along the side walls thereof spaced from and disposed between said upper and lower walls.
 6. The urine collecting device of claim 5 further including a pair of plates of relatively rigid plastic connected together in facing relation and to said container, portions of the facing walls of said plates defining said walls of said urine column breaking chamber, said first and second passages, and said vent chamber.
 7. The urine collecting device of claim 6 wherein said end portion of said tube is irregular to preclude the bridging of urine thereacross, and said vent passages are generally semi-cylindrical.
 8. The urine collecting device of claim 6 wherein each of said vent passages has a diameter of approximately 0.02 inch.
 9. The urine collecting device of claim 6 wherein said container is a flexible plastic bag.
 10. A urine collecting device for use in collecting urine passed from a patient comprising a collection container for receiving urine, a urine column breaking chamber connected with said container, a check valve connected between said chamber and said container for conducting urine unidirectionally only from said chamber to said container, a tube connected in fluid communication with said chamber for conducting urine from a patient to said chamber, said tube extending into said chamber with the end thereof in spaced relation from the walls of said chamber, vent means including a passage having one end connected with said chamber at a location spaced from the upper and lower walls of said chamber and the opposite end thereof connected in fluid communication with the atmosphere, and means for venting said container to atmosphere.
 11. The urine collecting device of claim 10 wherein said one end of said passage is substantially vertically midway between the upper and lower walls of said chamber.
 12. The urine collecting device of claim 10 including a pair of plates facially joined together and connected to said container with portions of said plates defining the walls of said chamber and said passage, said plates being formed of a plastic material which is rigid relative to the material of said container. 